Putter club head with radial face

ABSTRACT

A putter club head having a radial face to impact a golf ball above the equator of the golf ball. The club head having a recessed area formed in a front surface for receipt of an insert that can be either shaped by a 10.0 inch radius, or employ an insert constructed and arranged to form the 10.0 inch radius. The insert has a frontal surface that works in combination with a recessed area to cause an immediate golf ball roll upon impact. The radial impact face insert is releasably secured to the recessed area of the putter club head, allowing ease of substitution. The radial impact face insert can vary in materials of construction, wherein a golfer can employ the insert to accommodate various golfing conditions while maintaining a single putter club.

PRIORITY CLAIM

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/774,707 filed Jan. 28, 2020, entitled “PUTTER CLUB HEAD WITH AN ADJUSTABLE RADIAL FACE” claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/798,184 filed Jan. 29, 2019, entitled “PUTTER CLUB HEAD WITH AN ADJUSTABLE RADIAL FACE”. The contents of the above referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the game of golf; and more particularly, to a putter with an interchangeable impact face insert having a radial face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is a well-known sport played professionally and recreationally. A conventional golf course employs eighteen unique holes. Each hole consists of a tee box, a fairway, and a putting green. The object is to move a golf ball from the tee box to the putting green with as few uses of golf clubs as possible. Once on the putting green, the individual must putt the golf ball into a hole with as few attempts as possible. Stroke play is used in score keeping, wherein an individual with the lowest number of strokes used to advance the golf ball from the tee to the placement in the putting green hole is declared a winner.

Unique to the game of golf is the fact that a two-inch putt counts for a stroke, the same as a 350-yard drive. Golfers have long recognized the necessity of proper putting to complete a successful round of golf. Putting is typically a skill in which golfers have the greatest difficulty. Putting requires the proper positioning of an individual using a putter, wherein the face of the putter is aligned with the desired path the golf ball is to travel. The ability to excel at the game of golf requires accuracy in putting.

A conventional putter club head includes a frontal impact surface, known in the industry as the face of the club head, a shaft and a handgrip. Club heads can be of most any shape, all of which claim to provide advantages to the golfer. However, putters are very functional and can have a direct impact on the skill of a golfer. For instance, a putter impact surface may be constructed to lessen the travel of a golf ball, create a spin on the ball, and so forth. A shortcoming of conventional putters, which this invention addresses, is the ability to impart a forward roll of the golf ball upon immediate contact, so as to eliminate any skidding or spin being imposed upon the golf ball.

Putters having resilient members or face inserts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 726,885; 1,562,956; 1,939,414; 4,805,922; 5,407,196; 7,396,295; and 7,465,240.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,137,340 discloses a golf putter with an insert. The putter head includes a striking face formed from a first material, the striking face including a central cavity and an insert formed from a second material. The insert includes a front face and a back face, the back face fittingly engaged within the central cavity to align the front face with the face geometry surrounding the central cavity, thereby establishing a continuous surface along the striking face.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,029,160 discloses a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness. characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,901,788 discloses a putter having a face member configured for striking a ball. A weight member is connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member is positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,861,868 discloses an adaptable putter head that comprises a center piece and two wings rotatably attached to the center piece. The center piece and wings include a central face and wing faces, respectively. In an extended position, the central face and wing faces form a continuous surface for striking a ball in competitive play. In a retracted position, the central face provides a striking surface with less surface area and the putter head has a lower moment of inertia for skill training and practice.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,764,209 discloses a golf putter having a putter face comprised of multiple facets with a degree of static loft measured from the plane of the facet to the axis of the shaft. There are at least four facets on the face of the putter. The first facet is proximate to the sole of the face and has a first static loft angle. The second facet is above and abuts the first facet and has a second static loft angle which is greater than the first static loft angle. The third facet, abutting and above the second facet, has a third static loft angle which is greater than the second static loft angle. The fourth facet abuts and is above the third facet, and has a fourth static loft angle which is greater than the third static loft angle.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,874 discloses a putter head having an adjustable ball striking face insert contained within the putter body. The insert may have a plurality of sides, each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter. The adjustable ball striking insert may be rotatably mounted within the putter head.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,667 discloses a putter head which includes a putting face having a positive loft angle diverging from vertical to a putter head base. The putting face is formed from a plurality of substantially parallel blades, each of the blades contiguous with each other, wherein the blades are arrayed at a downward angle. Each of the blades narrows in width towards the putting face and terminates in a narrow tip. Each of the blades is flexible at its tip in order to impart an upward spring force upon impact with a golf ball.

What is lacking in the art is a golf putter, having a radial face insert, assuring forward roll of a golf ball upon impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A putter club head with an interchangeable radial shaped impact face insert. The club head has a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface having a recessed area for receipt of a shaped impact face insert. The insert has a frontal impact surface having 10.0″ radii from a centerline position 0.875 inches above the bottom surface of the putter. The frontal surface of the face insert is constructed and arranged to cause an immediate roll of a golf ball. The radial shaped face insert is releasably secured to the putter club head by use of a fastener.

An objective of the instant invention is to disclose a putter club head that, in conjunction with a face insert, imparts forward roll tendencies onto a golf ball upon impact.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a club head that eliminates golf ball skidding, or creating an unwanted spin.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a putter club head that can provide a distinctive sound associated with improved tactile feel when a golf ball is hit.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plane view of a golf putter of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plane view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional end view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front end view of the radial impact face insert;

FIG. 8A is a side view thereof;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the radial impact face insert;

FIG. 11 is a pictorial side view illustrating radius positioning; and

FIG. 12 is a pictorial side view illustrating golf ball impact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the Figures, set forth is a putter club head 10 having a front surface 14, also referred to as the face of the club head. The front surface 14 is further defined by a toe section 12 along a distal end of the club head 10, and a heel portion 16 along a proximal end of the club head 10. The club head 10 includes an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20, also referred to as the club head sole. A hosel 22 extends from the upper surface 18 of the club head 10 for attachment to a shaft, not shown, insertable into a socket 2A.

The lower surface 20 of the club head 10 may be conventional, or may include a Weight 26 along the toe 12 of the club head and a weight 28 along the heel 16 of the club head. In the preferred embodiment, the lower surface 20 has a radius R1.

The upper surface 18 of the club head 10 can be of most any design, but in a preferred embodiment includes a cavity 30 with a reduction from the upper surface 18 into step down layers 32 and 34. The use of the cavity 30 is arguably a design that provides a superior balance over a block type club head. A hosel 22 is offset from the frontal surface 14. The shaft, not shown, is typically constructed from steel to provide a stronger, more consistent feel when putting, but the shaft may also be constructed from graphite.

Although not limited by the specification, in a preferred embodiment, the length L of the club head 10 is about 4.5 inches, the width W of the club head 10 is about 1.125 inches, and the height H is about 1 inch.

A radial impact face insert 40 is centrally disposed between the toe portion 12 and the heel portion 16 of the club head 10. The face insert 40 has an upper edge 42, a lower edge 44, a front upper edge 46, a front lower edge 48, a rear upper edge 50, and a rear lower edge 52. In one embodiment, the shape of the face insert 40 forms a unidirectional placement into recess area 60. The radial impact face insert 40 may be removed and replaced with a face insert 40 having different impact characteristics, with the shape of the recess 60 and insert 40 assuring correction positioning. The face insert 40 is secured to the club head 10 by the use of fasteners 54, 56, which are positioned through apertures 82 and 84 of the face insert 10. The fasteners 54 and 56 have keyed access for ease of removal using an Allen type wrench, and are accessible from the cavity 30 side of the club head 10. The fasteners 54 and 56 maintain the face insert 40 along the front surface 14 of the club head 10.

The club head 10 having a front surface 14 with a recess 60 constructed and arranged to receive the insert 40. The recess 60 has a support wall 62 in one embodiment having a flat surface for receiving an insert 40 having a greater thickness on the top; or in another embodiment having a support wall 62 with a radius for receipt of an insert 40 having a uniform thickness. In an embodiment, the angle of the lower surface 20 in relation to the front surface 14 is 91 degrees. The angle of the front surface 14 is between 1 and 5 degrees with a preferred embodiment about 2 degrees.

The impact face insert 40 is preferably constructed of an 85% rebound material at 95 shore A hardness along a distal end 70 and proximal end 72. The center section 74 has a 45% rebound material at 85 shore A hardness of approximately ½ inch in width. Alternatively, the insert 40 is made of metal or 6061 aluminum material.

The frontal surface 14 of the insert 40 has a plurality of grooves 76 with about a 0.031 inch spacing between the grooves 76. In the preferred embodiment, there are ten grooves 76 that run parallel to the length of the club head 10. Of the ten grooves, there is one centerline groove 61 with five grooves 63 located above the centerline groove 61 and four grooves 64 located beneath the centerline groove 61. A spacing ridge 78 is placed around the edge of the face insert 40, forming a ridge having about a 0.060 inch width for spacing around the edge of the insert to the edge of the grooves. The depth of the grooves 76 is approximately 0.015 inches, plus or minus 0.002 inches. The height H1 of the face insert 40 is approximately 0.718 inches. In one embodiment the thickness T3 is greater along the top than along the bottom, as defined by thickness T4. The thickness T3 of the face insert 40 along the upper edge 42 is about 0.150 inches, and the thickness T4 of the face insert 40 along the lower edge 48 is about 0.124. The thickness between T3 and T4 is based upon curvature formed by a radius R1 of 10.0 inches derived from a centerline at a point 0.875 inches above the bottom surface of the club head 10, causing the impact between the insert 40 and the golf ball to be at or above the 0.810 inch centerline of a conventional golf ball having a 1.620 inch diameter.

FIG. 10 illustrates the back surface 80 of the face insert 40 with sockets 82 and 84 for receipt of threaded fasteners 54 and 56. The sockets 82 and 84 are threaded so as to receive threaded fasteners 54 and 56; and allow for ease of insertion and substitution. In one embodiment, the impact face insert 40 is constructed from a polymeric material, preferably polybutylene having a shore hardness, for soft impact, and is best used with hard golf balls and greens rated between 11 and 13. A face insert 40 having a mid-range softness, such as polybutylene having a 45% rebound material at 84 shore A hardness in the middle 0.5 inch central section 71 of the face insert 40 and a 85% rebound material having a 95 shore A hardness outside the center section 71. The mid-range insert would be used for greens rated around 10. A tour insert would have a harder feel, and thus be for use on greens rated 8 to 9. The rear surface 80 may include a foil that can provide a tactile feel and distinguishable sound. In an alternative embodiment, the impact face insert 40 may be made of metal, such as 6061 aluminum, which would have the same usage as a tour face insert, and preferably be for use with greens rated 8 to 9. It should be noted that a critical factor to this invention is the radial shape of the face insert 40, best illustrated by FIG. 8, showing the thickness T3 to be greater than the thickness T4.

FIG. 11 and 12 illustrates the curvature formed by a radius R2 of 10.0 inches derived from a center line point 41 positioned 0.875 inches above the lower surface 20 of the club head 10 and 10.0 inches from the face 40; the position of the radius causing the impact between the insert 40 and the golf ball 100 to be above the 0.810 inch centerline 102 of the golf ball having a 1.620 inch diameter. The center line radius 43 of the club head at 0.875 inches is above the center line radius 102 of the golf ball 100 which is 0.810 inches. In this embodiment the face 40 of the club head 10 follows the 10.0 inch radius curvature from the center line point 41 positioned 0.875 inches above the lower surface 20 of the club head 10.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putter club head comprising: a club head member having a front surface, a rear surface, a lower surface, and an upper surface with a hosel extending from said upper surface; a recessed area formed in said front surface; an insert constructed and arranged to reside in said recessed area, said insert having a radial shaped front face surface with a 10.0 inch radius curvature based from a center line positioned 0.875 inches above the lower surface of said club head; wherein said center line of said radius is positioned above a center line of a golf ball, whereby impacting the golf ball with said club head insert imparts a forward roll of the golf ball.
 2. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said curvature of said insert forms an upper thickness of about 0.150 inches and a lower thickness about 0.124 inches.
 3. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 including an aperture extending from said recessed area to said rear surface.
 4. The golf putter club head according to claim 3 including a fastener positioned on said rear surface and extending through said aperture for securing said insert to said recessed area.
 5. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said insert is formed from a polymeric or 6061 aluminum material.
 6. The golf putter club head according to claim 5 wherein said polymeric material has a 45% rebound with a 84 shore A hardness n a central section of said insert.
 7. The golf putter club head according to claim 6 wherein said polymeric material has an 85% rebound with a 95 shore A hardness outside said central section.
 8. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said insert includes a plurality of grooves spaced apart about 0.031 inches with a depth of about 0.015 inches deep,
 9. The golf putter club head according to claim 8 wherein said ten grooves are spaced apart along the length of said insert.
 10. A golf putter club head comprising: a club head member having a front surface, a rear surface, a lower surface, and an upper surface with a hosel extending from said upper surface; a recessed area formed in said front surface, said recessed area having a radial shaped front face surface with a 10.0 inch radius curvature based from a center line positioned 0.875 inches above the lower surface of said club head; and an insert securable to said recessed area; wherein said center line of said radius is positioned above a center line of a golf ball, whereby impacting the golf ball with said club head insert imparts a forward roll of the golf ball.
 11. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 wherein said recessed area includes a support wall having an angle between 1 and 5 degrees.
 12. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 wherein said support wall angle is about 2 degrees.
 10. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 including an aperture extending from said recessed area to said rear surface.
 14. The golf putter club head according to claim 13 including a fastener positioned on said rear surface and extending through said aperture for securing said insert to said recessed area.
 15. The golf putter club head according to claim 14 wherein said polymeric material has a 45% rebound with a 84 shore A hardness in a central section of said insert.
 16. The golf putter club head according to claim 15 wherein said polymeric material has an 85% rebound with a 95 shore A hardness outside said central section.
 17. The golf putter club head according to claim 15 wherein said polymeric material has an 85% rebound with a 95 shore A hardness.
 18. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 wherein said insert includes a plurality of grooves spaced apart about 0.031 inches with a depth of about 0.015 inches deep.
 19. The golf putter club head according to claim 18 wherein said ten grooves are spaced apart along the length of said insert.
 20. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 wherein said lower surface is presented at an angle of about 91° to said front surface. 